Kolkata highways will now charge toll tax

Kolkata: The Bengal government will soon charge toll tax in the state highways, similar to that charged on national highways across the country. However, the West Bengal Highway Development Corporation (WBHDC) has decided to keep the rates lower than what is imposed on the national highways.

The WBHA had employed RITES to conduct a survey of the state highways and decide on the rate. “RITES has already submitted the report on what the distance should be between two toll plazas on a highway; the toll to be charged from vehicles and so on. It will be placed in the cabinet for approval,” the official said.

Though the rates have not been finalised as yet, a source in the department informed that vehicles used by passenger vehicle like buses, minibuses and taxis would be exempted from the toll tax. For goods vehicles and commercial vehicles, the rates may be 65 paisa per km for two lane highways and Rs 1 per km for four lane highways.

The toll tax charged on the national highways in the state is around 40 paisa per km for light vehicles like four wheelers. However, for four wheelers used for commercial purpose, the rate hovers around 65 paisa per km. For buses and trucks, the rate is Rs 1.40 per km and for heavier vehicles, the charge is Rs 3 per km. The toll tax will help in revenue generation for the state.